Wings of Fire 4-8

SHAHEEN TAJ, HEAD, S&H DEPARTMENT, NIST.



What does Kalam say about Sarabhai’s contribution to India’s Science programme?

Prof. Vikram Sarabhai was a visionary who pioneered Space Research in India. He had invited Kalam to take up RATO project. During this project Prof. Sarabhai has realized his vision for ten year Space Research. The confidence and courage of Prof. Sarabhai made the Indian Scientific Community competent and ready to take on new challenges. It was Sarabhai who had located Shriharikota to rocket launching station.

Kalam has deep respect and utmost veneration to Prof. Sarabhai. He considers him as the ‘Mahatma of Indian Science’. Prof. Sarabhai was an innovator who was highly optimistic and tolerant. He identified the capabilities of his sub-ordinates. He was the only scientist who single handedly planned and got executed the vast network of Space Research Organizations throughout India. He wanted to develop indigenous rockets and satellites.

Prof. Sarabhai had formed a team named SLV-3 to develop SLV and Kalam was chosen to lead the project. Prof. Sarabhai used to say that mistakes were inevitable but generally manageable. He had the wisdom to understand any kind of situation. He had set up the Rocket Engineering Section at Thumba.

For five years, about 22 scientists and engineers had worked with Prof. Sarabhai who later took charge of important scientific projects. Prof. Sarabhai personally supervised the progress of each and every stage of SLV-3 until his untimely death. The TERLS at Thumba became the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, and the work on SLV -3 went on in full swing in Prof. Sarabhai’s memory.

Within a year of Sarabhai’s death India’s first SLV lifted off from SHAR. This credit goes to the pillars of Indian Space Programme, Prof. Sarabhai in particular. Thus Sarabhai’s visions define the country’s Space Progamme.


Why was the Nandi project abandoned?

In 1958, Kalam was posted at the Technical Centre. Based on his experience and studies, the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) set up a project team. Kalam was the leader. His first assignment was to design and develop an indigenous hovercraft prototype, called the Ground Equipment Machine. With limited resources and almost no information, the team designed and developed the indigenous hovercraft named ‘ Nandi”.

Defence Minister, V.K.Krishna Menon, was keenly interested in the success of this project. Inspite of his colleagues’ hostility Kalam and his small team succeeded in designing and developing the Nandi hovercraft. It’s appearance was not attractive but it could serve its purpose. V.K.Krishna Menon took a ride in it with Kalam at the controls. The risk was worth as it proved to be a smooth ride. The Defence Minister declared that the basic problems of hovercraft development were solved now. He encouraged Kalam to develop more powerful Prime movers and call him for more rides.

Abdul Kalam completed the Nandi project successfully ahead of schedule. It was appreciated by the Director of ADE also. But by then Krishna Menon was out of office. The new government did not show any interest in the project. Hence the GEM project was called off. Abdul Kalam was greatly disappointment as he had put his heart and soul into the successful creation of Nandi. Thus his early years as an employee ended with a successfully shelved Nandi project.